Direct communication between an image capture device and a computing device

ABSTRACT

An image capture device may be physically connected to a computing device using a data cable. The image capture device may masquerade as an ethernet card to the computing device over the physical connection. The image capture device may communicate with the computing device over the physical connection using a wireless communication protocol.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to communication between an image capture deviceand a computing device over a physical data connection using a wirelesscommunication protocol.

BACKGROUND

A remote connection between an image capture device and a computingdevice may have insufficient bandwidth and/or stability to enablereliable and fast transfer of data between the image capture device andthe computing device. A physical connection between an image capturedevice and a computing device may require use of proprietary protocol,software, and/or hardware to enable transfer of data between the imagecapture device and the computing device.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to image capture devices that directly connectsto a computing device. An image capture device may include a housing.The housing may carry one or more of an image sensor, an opticalelement, a data port, and/or other components. The optical element mayguide light within a field of view to the image sensor. The image sensormay generate a visual output signal conveying visual informationdefining visual content based on light that becomes incident thereon.The data port may connect to a data cable, which may be connected to thecomputing device to establish a physical data connection between theimage capture device and the computing device. The image capture devicemay be masqueraded as an ethernet card to the computing device over thephysical data connection. The image capture device may be associatedwith a first IP address. The computing device may be associated with asecond IP address. The image capture device may communicate with thecomputing device using a wireless communication protocol over thephysical data connection based on the first IP address and the second IPaddress, and/or other information.

An electronic storage may store information relating to image capturedevice, information relating to computing device, information relatingto data port, information relating to physical data connection,information relating to masquerading the image capture device as anethernet card, information relating to ethernet card, informationrelating to IP address, information relating to wireless communicationprotocol, information relating to communication over physical dataconnection using wireless communication protocol, and/or otherinformation.

The housing may carry one or more components of the image capturedevice. The housing may carry (be attached to, support, hold, and/orotherwise carry) one or more of an image sensor, an optical element, adata port, a processor, an electronic storage, and/or other components.

The image sensor may be configured to generate a visual output signaland/or other output signals. The visual output signal may convey visualinformation based on light that becomes incident thereon and/or otherinformation. The visual information may define visual content.

The optical element may be configured to guide light within a field ofview to the image sensor. The field of view may be less than 180degrees. The field of view may be equal to 180 degrees. The field ofview may be greater than 180 degrees.

The data port may be configured to connect to a data cable and/or othercables. The data cable may be configured to be connected to thecomputing device to establish a physical data connection between theimage capture device and the computing device. In some implementations,the data port may include a USB port. In some implementations, the imagecapture device may receive power from the computing device over the datacable.

The processor(s) may be configured by machine-readable instructions.Executing the machine-readable instructions may cause the processor(s)to facilitate directly connecting to a computing device. Themachine-readable instructions may include one or more computer programcomponents. The computer program components may include one or more of amasquerade component, an association component, a communicationcomponent, and/or other computer program components.

The masquerade component may be configured to masquerade the imagecapture device as another device. The masquerade component may beconfigured to masquerade the image capture device as an ethernet card tothe computing device over the physical data connection.

The association component may be configured to associate differentdevices with different IP addresses. The association component may beconfigured to associate the image capture device with a first IP addressand/or other IP addresses. The association component may be configuredto associate the computing device with a second IP address and/or otherIP addresses.

The communication component may be configured to communicate withanother device over the physical data connection. The communicationcomponent may be configured to communicate with the computing deviceover the physical data connection. The communication component may beconfigured to communicate with the computing device using one or morewireless communication protocols over the physical data connection basedon the first IP address, the second IP address, and/or otherinformation. In some implementations, a wireless communication protocolmay include Wi-Fi protocol.

In some implementations, communication between the image capture deviceand the computing device using the wireless communication protocol overthe physical data connection may include data transfer communicationbetween the image capture device and the computing device. The datatransfer communication between the image capture device and thecomputing device includes may include transfer of information definingthe visual content captured by the image capture device, transfer ofinformation defining edit to the visual content captured by the imagecapture device, and/or transfer of other information.

In some implementations, communication between the image capture deviceand the computing device using the wireless communication protocol overthe physical data connection may include command transfer communicationbetween the image capture device and the computing device.

In some implementations, availability of the communication between theimage capture device and the computing device using the wirelesscommunication protocol over the physical data connection may be checkedusing Bluetooth communication and/or other communication.

In some implementations, one or more additional communication protocolsand/or one or more alternative communication protocols may be used tocommunicate with the computing device over the physical data connection.In some implementations, an additional communication protocol or analternative communication protocol may include media transfer protocol.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the systemand/or method disclosed herein, as well as the methods of operation andfunctions of the related elements of structure and the combination ofparts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent uponconsideration of the following description and the appended claims withreference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of thisspecification, wherein like reference numerals designate correspondingparts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however,that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and descriptiononly and are not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singularform of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system that directly connects to acomputing device.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example method for directly connecting to acomputing device.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example image capture device.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example physical data connection between an imagecapture device and a computing device.

FIG. 5 illustrates example data transfer between an image capture deviceand a computing device using wireless communication protocol overphysical data connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 for directly connecting to a computingdevice. The system 10 may include one or more of a processor 11, aninterface 12 (e.g., bus, wireless interface), an electronic storage 13,an optical element 14, an image sensor 15, a data port 16, and/or othercomponents. The system 10 may include and/or be part of an image capturedevice. The image capture device may include a housing, and one or moreof the optical element 14, the image sensor 15, the data port 16, and/orother components of the system 10 may be carried by the housing theimage capture device. The optical element 14 may guide light within afield of view to the image sensor 15. The image sensor 15 may generate avisual output signal conveying visual information defining visualcontent based on light that becomes incident thereon. The data port 16may connect to a data cable, which may be connected to the computingdevice to establish a physical data connection between the image capturedevice and the computing device. The image capture device may bemasqueraded by the processor 11 as an ethernet card to the computingdevice over the physical data connection. The image capture device maybe associated with a first IP address by the processor 11. The computingdevice may be associated with a second IP address by the processor 11.The image capture device may communicate with the computing device usinga wireless communication protocol over the physical data connectionbased on the first IP address and the second IP address, and/or otherinformation.

The electronic storage 13 may be configured to include electronicstorage medium that electronically stores information. The electronicstorage 13 may store software algorithms, information determined by theprocessor 11, information received remotely, and/or other informationthat enables the system 10 to function properly. For example, theelectronic storage 13 may store information relating to image capturedevice, information relating to computing device, information relatingto data port, information relating to physical data connection,information relating to masquerading the image capture device as anethernet card, information relating to ethernet card, informationrelating to IP address, information relating to wireless communicationprotocol, information relating to communication over physical dataconnection using wireless communication protocol, and/or otherinformation.

Visual content may refer to content of image(s), video frame(s), and/orvideo(s) that may be consumed visually. For example, visual content maybe included within one or more images and/or one or more video frames ofa video. The video frame(s) may define/contain the visual content of thevideo. That is, video may include video frame(s) that define/contain thevisual content of the video. Video frame(s) may define/contain visualcontent viewable as a function of progress through the progress lengthof the video content. A video frame may include an image of the videocontent at a moment within the progress length of the video. As usedherein, term video frame may be used to refer to one or more of an imageframe, frame of pixels, encoded frame (e.g., I-frame, P-frame, B-frame),and/or other types of video frame. Visual content may be generated basedon light received within a field of view of a single image sensor orwithin fields of view of multiple image sensors.

Visual content (of image(s), of video frame(s), of video(s)) with afield of view may be captured by an image capture device during acapture duration. A field of view of visual content may define a fieldof view of a scene captured within the visual content. A captureduration may be measured/defined in terms of time durations and/or framenumbers. For example, visual content may be captured during a captureduration of 60 seconds, and/or from one point in time to another pointin time. As another example, 1800 images may be captured during acapture duration. If the images are captured at 30 images/second, thenthe capture duration may correspond to 60 seconds. Other capturedurations are contemplated.

Visual content may be stored in one or more formats and/or one or morecontainers. A format may refer to one or more ways in which theinformation defining visual content is arranged/laid out (e.g., fileformat). A container may refer to one or more ways in which informationdefining visual content is arranged/laid out in association with otherinformation (e.g., wrapper format). Information defining visual content(visual information) may be stored within a single file or multiplefiles. For example, visual information defining an image or video framesof a video may be stored within a single file (e.g., image file, videofile), multiple files (e.g., multiple image files, multiple videofiles), a combination of different files, and/or other files.

The system 10 may be remote from the image capture device or local tothe image capture device. One or more portions of the image capturedevice may be remote from or a part of the system 10. One or moreportions of the system 10 may be remote from or a part of the imagecapture device. For example, one or more components of the system 10 maybe carried by a housing, such as a housing of an image capture device.For instance, the optical element 14, the image sensor 15, and/or thedata port 16 of the system 10 may be carried by the housing of the imagecapture device. The housing may carry other components, such as theprocessor 11 and the electronic storage 13.

An image capture device may refer to a device that captures visualcontent. An image capture device may capture visual content in form ofimages, videos, and/or other forms. An image capture device may refer toa device for recording visual information in the form of images, videos,and/or other media. An image capture device may be a standalone device(e.g., camera, action camera, image sensor) or may be part of anotherdevice (e.g., part of a smartphone, tablet). FIG. 3 illustrates anexample image capture device 302. Visual content (e.g., of image(s),video frame(s)) may be captured by the image capture device 302. Theimage capture device 302 may include a housing 312. The housing 312 mayrefer a device (e.g., casing, shell) that covers, protects, and/orsupports one or more components of the image capture device 302. Thehousing 312 may include a single-piece housing or a multi-piece housing.The housing 312 may carry (be attached to, support, hold, and/orotherwise carry) one or more of an optical element 304, an image sensor306, a data port 308, a processor 310, and/or other components.

One or more components of the image capture device 302 may be the sameas, be similar to, and/or correspond to one or more components of thesystem 10. For example, the processor 308 may be the same as, be similarto, and/or correspond to the processor 11. The optical element 304 maybe the same as, be similar to, and/or correspond to the optical element14. The image sensor 306 may be the same as, be similar to, and/orcorrespond to the image sensor 15. The data port 308 may be the same as,be similar to, and/or correspond to the data port 16. The housing maycarry other components, such as the electronic storage 13. The imagecapture device 302 may include other components not shown in FIG. 3 .For example, the image capture device 302 may include one or more soundsensors configured to capture audio content. The image capture device302 may not include one or more components shown in FIG. 3 . Otherconfigurations of image capture devices are contemplated.

The optical element 304 may include instrument(s), tool(s), and/ormedium that acts upon light passing through theinstrument(s)/tool(s)/medium. For example, the optical element 304 mayinclude one or more of lens, mirror, prism, and/or other opticalelements. The optical element 304 may affect direction, deviation,and/or path of the light passing through the optical element 304. Theoptical element 304 may have a field of view 305. The optical element304 may be configured to guide light within the field of view 305 to theimage sensor 306.

The field of view 305 may include the field of view of a scene that iswithin the field of view of the optical element 304 and/or the field ofview of the scene that is delivered to the image sensor 306. Forexample, the optical element 304 may guide light within its field ofview to the image sensor 306 or may guide light within a portion of itsfield of view to the image sensor 306. The field of view of 305 of theoptical element 304 may refer to the extent of the observable world thatis seen through the optical element 304. The field of view 305 of theoptical element 304 may include one or more angles (e.g., verticalangle, horizontal angle, diagonal angle) at which light is received andpassed on by the optical element 304 to the image sensor 306. In someimplementations, the field of view 305 may be greater than 180-degrees.In some implementations, the field of view 305 may be less than180-degrees. In some implementations, the field of view 305 may be equalto 180-degrees.

In some implementations, the image capture device 302 may includemultiple optical elements. For example, the image capture device 302 mayinclude multiple optical elements that are arranged on the housing 312to capture spherical images/videos (guide light within spherical fieldof view to one or more images sensors). For instance, the image capturedevice 302 may include two optical elements positioned on opposing sidesof the housing 312. The fields of views of the optical elements mayoverlap and enable capture of spherical images and/or spherical videos.

The image sensor 306 may include sensor(s) that converts received lightinto output signals. The output signals may include electrical signals.The image sensor 306 may generate output signals conveying informationthat defines visual content of one or more images and/or one or morevideo frames of a video. For example, the image sensor 306 may includeone or more of a charge-coupled device sensor, an active pixel sensor, acomplementary metal-oxide semiconductor sensor, an N-typemetal-oxide-semiconductor sensor, and/or other image sensors.

The image sensor 306 may be configured generate output signals conveyinginformation that defines visual content of one or more images and/or oneor more video frames of a video. The image sensor 306 may be configuredto generate a visual output signal based on light that becomes incidentthereon during a capture duration and/or other information. The visualoutput signal may convey visual information that defines visual contenthaving the field of view. The optical element 304 may be configured toguide light within the field of view 305 to the image sensor 306, andthe image sensor 306 may be configured to generate visual output signalsconveying visual information based on light that becomes incidentthereon via the optical element 304.

The visual information may define visual content by includinginformation that defines one or more content, qualities, attributes,features, and/or other aspects of the visual content. For example, thevisual information may define visual content of an image by includinginformation that makes up the content of the image, and/or informationthat is used to determine the content of the image. For instance, thevisual information may include information that makes up and/or is usedto determine the arrangement of pixels, characteristics of pixels,values of pixels, and/or other aspects of pixels that define visualcontent of the image. For example, the visual information may includeinformation that makes up and/or is used to determine pixels of theimage. Other types of visual information are contemplated.

Capture of visual content by the image sensor 306 may include conversionof light received by the image sensor 306 into output signals/visualinformation defining visual content. Capturing visual content mayinclude recording, storing, and/or otherwise capturing the visualcontent for use in generating video content (e.g., content of videoframes). For example, during a capture duration, the visual outputsignal generated by the image sensor 306 and/or the visual informationconveyed by the visual output signal may be used to record, store,and/or otherwise capture the visual content for use in generating videocontent.

In some implementations, the image capture device 302 may includemultiple image sensors. For example, the image capture device 302 mayinclude multiple image sensors carried by the housing 312 to capturespherical images/videos based on light guided thereto by multipleoptical elements. For instance, the image capture device 302 may includetwo image sensors configured to receive light from two optical elementspositioned on opposing sides of the housing 312. The fields of views ofthe optical elements may overlap and enable capture of spherical imagesand/or spherical videos.

The data port 308 may refer to a port that serves as an interfacebetween the image capture device 302 and other devices, such ascomputing devices. The data port 308 may include a port that serves asan interview between the image capture device 302 and other devices toenable transfer of information between the image capture device 302 andother devices. A computing device may refer to may refer to electronicdevices that provides computing capabilities, such as a computer (e.g.,desktop computer, laptop computer), a tablet, a smartphone, asmartwatch, and/or other types of computing device. The data port 308may include one or more different types of ports to provide cableconnection interfaces, such as a USB port (e.g., USB-A, USB-B, USB-C), alightning port, and/or other types of ports.

The data port 308 may be configured to connect to a data cable and/orother cables. A data cable may refer to a physical media that allowstransfer/transmission of information between different computing devicesconnected by the data cable. The data cable 308 may be configured to beconnected to the image capture device 302 via the data port 308. Thedata cable may be configured to be connected to a computing device(e.g., via one or more data ports of the computing device) to establisha physical data connection (rather than a wireless data connection)between the image capture device 302 and the computing device. The datacable 308 may provide the physical data connection between the imagecapture device 302 and the computing device.

In some implementations, the data port 308 may enable transfer of powerbetween the image capture device 302 and the computing device. Forexample, the image capture device 302 may receive power from thecomputing device over the data cable. For instance, when the imagecapture device 302 is physically connected to a computing device via thedata port 308 to send and/or receive information, the image capturedevice may also receive power from the computing device. Such receptionof power from the computing device may enable the image capture device302 to offload content to the computing device without losingpower/battery charge.

The processor 310 may include one or more processors (logic circuitry)that provide information processing capabilities in the image capturedevice 302. The processor 310 may provide one or more computingfunctions for the image capture device 302. The processor 310 mayoperate/send command signals to one or more components of the imagecapture device 302 to operate the image capture device 302. For example,the processor 310 may facilitate operation of the image capture device302 in capturing image(s) and/or video(s), facilitate operation of theoptical element 304 (e.g., change how light is guided by the opticalelement 304), and/or facilitate operation of the image sensor 306 (e.g.,change how the received light is converted into information that definesimages/videos and/or how the images/videos are post-processed aftercapture).

The processor 310 may obtain information from the image sensor 306and/or facilitate transfer of information from the image sensor 306 toanother device/component. The processor 310 may be remote from theprocessor 11 or local to the processor 11. One or more portions of theprocessor 310 may be remote from the processor 11 and/or one or moreportions of the processor 10 may be part of the processor 310. Theprocessor 310 may include and/or perform one or more functionalities ofthe processor 11 shown in FIG. 1 .

For example, the image capture device 302 may communicate with acomputing device over a physical data connection between the imagecapture device 302 and the computing device using a wirelesscommunication protocol. FIG. 4 illustrates an example physical dataconnection 408 between an image capture device 402 and a computingdevice 404. A data cable 406 may be connected to the image capturedevice 402 (e.g., via one or more data ports of the image capture device402) and may be connected to the computing device 404 (e.g., via one ormore data ports of the computing device). The data cable 406 between theimage capture device 402 and the computing device 404 may establish thephysical data connection 408 between the image capture device 302 andthe computing device.

The image capture device 402 may be masqueraded as an ethernet card tothe computing device 404 over the physical data connection 408. Theimage capture device 402 may be associated with an IP address A 412, andthe computing device 404 may be associated with an IP address B 414. Theimage capture device 402 may communicate with the computing device 404using a wireless communication protocol over the physical dataconnection 408 based on the IP address A 412 of the image capture device402 and the IP address B 404 of the computing device 404, and/or otherinformation. For example, use of the wireless communication protocolover the physical data connection 408 may enable the image capturedevice 402 and the computing device 404 to communicate through the datacable 406 as if they were connected wirelessly (e.g., through WiFi). Useof the wireless communication protocol over the physical data connection408 may enable the image capture device 402 and the computing device 404to communicate through the data cable 406 without having to go throughwireless connection process (e.g., image capture device 402 setting upnetwork and broadcast SSID, the computing device 404 connecting to thenetwork, the image capture device 402 authenticating the accesscredential of the computing device 404 to join the network).

Communication between the image capture device 402 and the computingdevice 404 may include transfer of information defining content (e.g.,visual content, audio content) captured by the image capture device 402.Communication between the image capture device 402 and the computingdevice 404 may include transfer of information defining command from onedevice to the other (e.g., command to start, change, and/or end anoperation of the image capture device 402 from the computing device 404,or vice versa).

Such use of physical data connection 408 between the image capturedevice 402 and the computing device 404 may provide benefit over use ofwireless data connection between the image capture device 402 and thecomputing device 404 to transfer information. For example, usingwireless data connection for communication between the image capturedevice 402 and the computing device 404 may require the image capturedevice 402 to turn on and use wireless communication components (turn onWiFi or Bluetooth chips on the image capture device 402, which may causea drain on the battery of the image capture device 402. Using thephysical data connection 408, on the other hand, may not require suchdrain on battery and may be used to supply power to the battery(recharge the battery).

Using wireless data connection for communication between the imagecapture device 402 and the computing device 404 may require the imagecapture device 402 and the computing device 404 to perform wirelessnetwork setup and wireless network authentication procedure to enablecommunication between the devices. Using the physical data connection408, on the other hand, may not require setup of wireless network andwireless network authentication procedure.

Using wireless data connection for communication between the imagecapture device 402 and the computing device 404 may restrict the imagecapture device 402 and/or the computing device 404 from being connectedto other networks. For instance, to connect to the image capture device402 wirelessly, the computing device 404 may need to stop its wirelessconnection to the Internet. Using the physical data connection 408, onthe other hand, may enable the image capture device 402 and/or thecomputing device 404 to be connected to other devices and/or to theInternet (e.g., using wireless connection, using other wiredconnection).

Additionally, wireless connection (e.g., WiFi connection, Bluetoothconnection) between the image capture device 402 and the computingdevice 404 may have less bandwidth (resulting in slower informationtransfer speed) and/or less stability (resulting in droppedcommunication) than the physical data connection 408. Using the physicaldata connection 408, on the other hand, may enable the image capturedevice 402 and/or the computing device 404 to communicate at higherrate/using higher bandwidth, and with greater stability in connection.

Using a wireless communication protocol over the physical dataconnection 408 between the image capture device 402 and the computingdevice 404 may provide benefit over using other communication protocolfor physical data connections. Using a wireless communication protocolover the physical data connection 408 may enable more capabilities thanusing other communication protocol for physical data connections. Forexample, the wireless communication protocol may enable morecapabilities in types of information that may be exchanged and/or howthe information is exchanged than other communication protocol forphysical data connections, such as the Media Transfer Protocol.

For example, the Media Transfer Protocol may restrict transformation ofinformation between the image capture device 402 and the computingdevice 404 to viewing the list of media stored at the image capturedevice 402 from the computing device 404 or downloading media stored atthe image capture device 402 to the computing device 404. The wirelesscommunication protocol may enable, in addition to enabling viewing listof media stored at the image capture device 402 from the computingdevice 404 and/or downloading media stored at the image capture device402 to the computing device 404, previewing and/or editing of media(e.g., visual content, audio content) stored at the image capture device402 from the computing device 404.

As another example, using custom/proprietary communication protocol forphysical data connections, may require specific software and/or hardware(e.g., MFI chip) to enable the communication. Using custom/proprietarycommunication protocol for physical data connections may requirecommunication framework to be developed to use the custom/proprietarycommunication protocol to enable different types of information transferbetween the image capture device 402 and the computing device 404. Usinga wireless communication protocol over the physical data connection 408may enable the image capture device 402 and the computing device 404 toutilize existing software solution that has been built for wirelesscommunication, such as web-browser technology built for WiFi. Using awireless communication protocol over the physical data connection 408may enable the image capture device 402 to communicate with variety ofdifferent computing devices (e.g., computing devices running differentoperating systems, such as Windows, MacOS, Android, Linux).

Referring back to FIG. 1 , the processor 11 (or one or more componentsof the processor 11) may be configured to obtain information tofacilitate directly connecting to a computing device. Obtaininginformation may include one or more of accessing, acquiring, analyzing,determining, examining, identifying, loading, locating, opening,receiving, retrieving, reviewing, selecting, storing, and/or otherwiseobtaining the information. The processor 11 may obtain information fromone or more locations. For example, the processor 11 may obtaininformation from a storage location, such as the electronic storage 13,electronic storage of information and/or signals generated by one ormore sensors, electronic storage of a device accessible via a network,and/or other locations. The processor 11 may obtain information from oneor more hardware components (e.g., an image sensor) and/or one or moresoftware components (e.g., software running on a computing device).

The processor 11 may be configured to provide information processingcapabilities in the system 10. As such, the processor 11 may compriseone or more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digitalcircuit designed to process information, a central processing unit, agraphics processing unit, a microcontroller, an analog circuit designedto process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms forelectronically processing information. The processor 11 may beconfigured to execute one or more machine-readable instructions 100 tofacilitate directly connecting to a computing device. Themachine-readable instructions 100 may include one or more computerprogram components. The machine-readable instructions 100 may includeone or more of a masquerade component 102, an association component 104,a communication component 106, and/or other computer program components.

The masquerade component 102 may be configured to masquerade the imagecapture device as one or more other devices. For example, the masqueradecomponent 102 may be configured to masquerade the image capture deviceas an ethernet card (ethernet adapter) to the computing device over thephysical data connection. For example, referring to FIG. 4 , the imagecapture device 402 may be masqueraded as an ethernet card to thecomputing device 404 over the physical data connection 408. Masqueradingthe image capture device as an ethernet card may include disguising theimage capture device as an ethernet card. Masquerading the image capturedevice as an ethernet card may include controlling the data interfacefor the data port 16 (e.g., USB interface for USB port) to adhere towireless communication protocol (e.g., ethernet protocol). Masqueradingthe image capture device as an ethernet card may include instructing thedata port 16 (e.g., USB port) at the kernel level that the image capturedevice is an ethernet card. Masquerading the image capture device as anethernet card to the computing device may include spoofing the imagecapture device into tricking the computing device so that the computingdevice sees the image capture device as an ethernet card. Masqueradingthe image capture device as an ethernet card to the computing deviceover the physical data connection may include sending information to thecomputing device that makes the computing device see the image capturedevice as an ethernet card.

The association component 104 may be configured to associate differentdevices with different IP addresses. For example, the associationcomponent 104 may be configured to associate the image capture devicewith an IP address, and associate the computing device withanother/different IP address. Associating a device with an IP addressmay include one or more of connecting the device with the IP address,involving the device with the IP address, assigning the IP address tothe device, receiving the IP address of the device, confirming the IPaddress of the device, and/or other associating of the device with theIP address. An IP address associated with a device may be a static IPaddress or a dynamic IP address. Association of IP addresses with theimage capture device and the computing device may enable the imagecapture device and the computing device to communicate with each otherusing a wireless communication protocol. For example, association of IPaddresses with the image capture device and the computing device mayenable the image capture device and the computing device to communicatewith each other over the physical data connection as if they wereconnected through WiFi/wireless network.

In some implementations, a device may look for IP address(es) associatedwith other device(s), and the device may determine that the otherdevice(s) are connected to it based on detecting the IP address(es). Forexample, the computing device may detect the IP address associated withthe image capture device, and may determine that the image capturedevice is connected to the computing device through the physical dataconnection based on detection of the IP address associated with theimage capture device. The computing device may automatically run one ormore operations (e.g., searching for new media on the image capturedevice, download a list of media on the image capture device, opening amedia sharing software) based on determination that the image capturedevice is connected to the computing device.

The communication component 106 may be configured to communicate withanother device over the physical data connection. For example, thecommunication component 104 may be configured to communicate with thecomputing device over the physical data connection. The communicationcomponent 104 may be configured to communicate with the computing deviceusing one or more wireless communication protocols over the physicaldata connection based on the IP address associated with the imagecapture device, the IP address associated with eh computing device,and/or other information. The communication component 104 communicatingwith the computing device may enable and/or include image capture devicecommunicating with the computing over the physical data connection usingthe wireless communication protocol(s). A wireless communicationprotocol may refer to a set of rules that allow two or more devices totransmit information wirelessly/without physical data connection. Awireless communication protocol may define format for exchanginginformation (e.g., message format). In some implementations, a wirelesscommunication protocol may include Wi-Fi protocol.

For example, referring to FIG. 4 , the image capture device 402 and thecomputing device 404 may communicate with each other over the physicaldata connection 408 using WiFi protocol. Using WiFi protocol over thephysical data connection 408 may enable the image capture device 402 andthe computing device 404 to communicate using technology built for WiFicommunication, while not being restricted by technical limitations ofWiFi, such as limited bandwidth and/or unstable connection. Using WiFiprotocol over the physical data connection 408 may enable the imagecapture device 402 to receive power from the computing device 404, andallow the image capture device 402 to exchange information with thecomputing device 404 without losing power and/or while recharging itsbattery. Use of other wireless communication protocols are completed.

In some implementations, communication between the image capture deviceand the computing device using the wireless communication protocol overthe physical data connection may include data transfer communicationbetween the image capture device and the computing device. Data transfercommunication may refer to communication for transferring data from onedevice to another device. Data transfer communication may includecommunication that transfers data from the image capture device to thecomputing device and/or communication that transfers data from thecomputing device to the image capture device. For example, data transfercommunication between the image capture device and the computing devicemay include transfer of information defining content (e.g., visualcontent, audio content) captured by the image capture device. Datatransfer communication between the image capture device and thecomputing device may include transfer of information defining edit tothe content (e.g., visual content, audio content) captured by the imagecapture device. Transfer of other data are contemplated.

In some implementations, communication between the image capture deviceand the computing device using the wireless communication protocol overthe physical data connection may include command transfer communicationbetween the image capture device and the computing device. Commandtransfer communication may refer to communication for transferringcommand from one device to another device. Command transfercommunication may include communication that transfers command from theimage capture device to the computing device and/or communication thattransfers command from the computing device to the image capture device.For example, command transfer communication between the image capturedevice and the computing device may include transfer, from the computingdevice, of information defining one or more commands to operate theimage capture device. Command transfer communication between the imagecapture device and the computing device may include transfer, from theimage capture device, of information defining one or more commands tooperate the computing device. Transfer of other commands arecontemplated.

FIG. 5 illustrates example data transfer between an image capture device502 and a computing device 504 using wireless communication protocolover physical data connection. Communication using wirelesscommunication protocol over physical data connection 510 may includedata transfer, such as transfer of media data and/or edit data, commandtransfer, and/or other information transfer.

For example, the computing device 504 may utilize communication usingwireless communication protocol over physical data connection 510 topreview and/or playback media (e.g., image file, video file, audio file)stored at the image capture device 502. The storage of the image capturedevice 502 may be treated as a network connected storage device, fromwhich the computing device 504 accesses the media. The computing device504 may edit the media stored at the image capture device 502 withoutoffloading the media from the image capture device 502.

The edit to the media (e.g., to shorten the media, to make cuts in themedia, to generate a new media, such as a video edit) may be stored as alist of edits (e.g., edit decision list). The list of edits may betransferred to the image capture device 502. The image capture device502 may use the list of edits to perform the edits. The image capturedevice 502 may provide the list of edits to a computing device (e.g.,the computing device 504, another computing device) to continue edits tothe media. For instance, a user may initially connect an image capturedevice to a computer (e.g., laptop) to start creating a video edit basedon videos stored in the image capture device. The list of edits may betransferred to and stored at the image capture device. The user maylater connect the image capture device to the same computer (e.g.,laptop) or a different computer (e.g., desktop, tablet, smartphone). Thelist of edits stored at the image capture device may be used to continuework on the video edit.

In some implementations, the portions of the media that are needed togenerate the video edit may be offloaded to the computing device 504.For example, the image capture device 502 may have in storage an hour ofvideo footage. The video edit may utilize snippets of the video footage,and the snippets of the video footage may be transferred to thecomputing device 504. The computing device 504 may generate the videoedit using the list of edits and the snippets of the video footage.

In some implementations, availability of the communication between theimage capture device and the computing device using the wirelesscommunication protocol over the physical data connection may be checkedusing Bluetooth communication and/or other communication. For example,the image capture device and the computing device may communicate usingBluetooth communication to determine whether the image capture deviceand the computing device are capable of communicating over the physicaldata connection using the wireless communication protocol. Based on theimage capture device and the computing device being capable ofcommunicating over the physical data connection using the wirelesscommunication protocol, the communication over the physical dataconnection using the wireless communication protocol may beenabled/started when a data cable is connected between the image capturedevice and the computing device. Based on the image capture device andthe computing device being incapable of communicating over the physicaldata connection using the wireless communication protocol, thecommunication over the physical data connection using another protocol(e.g., Media Transfer Protocol) may be enabled/started when a data cableis connected between the image capture device and the computing device.

In some implementations, one or more additional communication protocolsand/or one or more alternative communication protocols may be used tocommunicate with the computing device over the physical data connection.An additional communication protocol may refer to a communicationprotocol that is used in addition to the wireless communication protocolto facilitate communication between the image capture device and thecomputing device over the physical data connection. For example, theadditional communication protocol may include media transfer protocol,and the image capture device and the computing device may communicateover the physical data connection using the wireless communicationprotocol and the media transfer protocol. An alternative communicationmay refer to a communication protocol that is used in place of thewireless communication protocol to facilitate communication between theimage capture device and the computing device over the physical dataconnection. For example, the alternative communication protocol mayinclude media transfer protocol, and the image capture device and thecomputing device may communicate over the physical data connection themedia transfer protocol, rather than using the wireless communicationprotocol. For instance, the image capture device and the computingdevice may switch between the wireless communication protocol and themedia transfer protocol. Other additional communication protocol andalternative communication protocol are contemplated.

Implementations of the disclosure may be made in hardware, firmware,software, or any suitable combination thereof. Aspects of the disclosuremay be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium,which may be read and executed by one or more processors. Amachine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputing device). For example, a tangible (non-transitory)machine-readable storage medium may include read-only memory, randomaccess memory, magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flashmemory devices, and others, and a machine-readable transmission mediamay include forms of propagated signals, such as carrier waves, infraredsignals, digital signals, and others. Firmware, software, routines, orinstructions may be described herein in terms of specific exemplaryaspects and implementations of the disclosure, and performing certainactions.

In some implementations, some or all of the functionalities attributedherein to the system 10 may be provided by external resources notincluded in the system 10. External resources may include hosts/sourcesof information, computing, and/or processing and/or other providers ofinformation, computing, and/or processing outside of the system 10.

Although the processor 11 and the electronic storage 13 are shown to beconnected to the interface 12 in FIG. 1 , any communication medium maybe used to facilitate interaction between any components of the system10. One or more components of the system 10 may communicate with eachother through hard-wired communication, wireless communication, or both.For example, one or more components of the system 10 may communicatewith each other through a network. For example, the processor 11 maywirelessly communicate with the electronic storage 13. By way ofnon-limiting example, wireless communication may include one or more ofradio communication, Bluetooth communication, Wi-Fi communication,cellular communication, infrared communication, or other wirelesscommunication. Other types of communications are contemplated by thepresent disclosure.

Although the processor 11 is shown in FIG. 1 as a single entity, this isfor illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, the processor11 may comprise a plurality of processing units. These processing unitsmay be physically located within the same device, or the processor 11may represent processing functionality of a plurality of devicesoperating in coordination. The processor 11 may be configured to executeone or more components by software; hardware; firmware; some combinationof software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms forconfiguring processing capabilities on the processor 11.

It should be appreciated that although computer components areillustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located within a single processingunit, in implementations in which processor 11 comprises multipleprocessing units, one or more of computer program components may belocated remotely from the other computer program components. Forexample, one or more computer program component may be located withinprocessing unit(s) of an image capture device and one or more computerprogram component may be located within processing unit(s) of acomputing device.

While computer program components are described herein as beingimplemented via processor 11 through machine-readable instructions 100,this is merely for ease of reference and is not meant to be limiting. Insome implementations, one or more functions of computer programcomponents described herein may be implemented via hardware (e.g.,dedicated chip, field-programmable gate array) rather than software. Oneor more functions of computer program components described herein may besoftware-implemented, hardware-implemented, or software andhardware-implemented.

The description of the functionality provided by the different computerprogram components described herein is for illustrative purposes, and isnot intended to be limiting, as any of computer program components mayprovide more or less functionality than is described. For example, oneor more of computer program components may be eliminated, and some orall of its functionality may be provided by other computer programcomponents. As another example, processor 11 may be configured toexecute one or more additional computer program components that mayperform some or all of the functionality attributed to one or more ofcomputer program components described herein.

The electronic storage media of the electronic storage 13 may beprovided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with one or morecomponents of the system 10 and/or as removable storage that isconnectable to one or more components of the system 10 via, for example,a port (e.g., a USB port, a Firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., adisk drive, etc.). The electronic storage 13 may include one or more ofoptically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.),magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic harddrive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g.,EPROM, EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive,etc.), and/or other electronically readable storage media. Theelectronic storage 13 may be a separate component within the system 10,or the electronic storage 13 may be provided integrally with one or moreother components of the system 10 (e.g., the processor 11). Although theelectronic storage 13 is shown in FIG. 1 as a single entity, this is forillustrative purposes only. In some implementations, the electronicstorage 13 may comprise a plurality of storage units. These storageunits may be physically located within the same device, or theelectronic storage 13 may represent storage functionality of a pluralityof devices operating in coordination.

FIG. 2 illustrates method 200 for directly connecting to a computingdevice. The operations of method 200 presented below are intended to beillustrative. In some implementations, method 200 may be accomplishedwith one or more additional operations not described, and/or without oneor more of the operations discussed. In some implementations, two ormore of the operations may occur substantially simultaneously.

In some implementations, method 200 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, a central processingunit, a graphics processing unit, a microcontroller, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operation of method 200 in response to instructions storedelectronically on one or more electronic storage media. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 200.

Referring to FIG. 2 and method 200, an image capture device may includea housing. The housing may carry one or more of an image sensor, anoptical element, a data port, and/or other components. The opticalelement may guide light within a field of view to the image sensor. Theimage sensor may generate a visual output signal conveying visualinformation defining visual content based on light that becomes incidentthereon. The data port may connect to a data cable, which may beconnected to the computing device to establish a physical dataconnection between the image capture device and the computing device.

At operation 201, the image capture device may be masqueraded as anethernet card to the computing device over the physical data connection.In some implementation, operation 201 may be performed by a processorcomponent the same as or similar to the masquerade component 102 (Shownin FIG. 1 and described herein).

At operation 202, the image capture device may be associated with afirst IP address, and the computing device may be associated with asecond IP address. In some implementations, operation 202 may beperformed by a processor component the same as or similar to theassociation component 104 (Shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At operation 203, the image capture device may communicate with thecomputing device using a wireless communication protocol over thephysical data connection based on the first IP address and the second IPaddress. In some implementations, operation 203 may be performed by aprocessor component the same as or similar to the communicationcomponent 106 (Shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

Although the system(s) and/or method(s) of this disclosure have beendescribed in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what iscurrently considered to be the most practical and preferredimplementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely forthat purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosedimplementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to covermodifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood thatthe present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one ormore features of any implementation can be combined with one or morefeatures of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for directly connecting an image capturedevice to a computing device, the system comprising: one or morephysical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:masquerade the image capture device as an ethernet card to the computingdevice over a physical data connection between the image capture deviceand the computing device, wherein the image capture device is associatedwith a first IP address and the computing device is associated with asecond IP address; and enable communication between the image capturedevice and the computing device using a wireless communication protocolover the physical data connection based on the first IP address and thesecond IP address.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capturedevice receives power from the computing device over the data cable. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the communication between the imagecapture device and the computing device using the wireless communicationprotocol over the physical data connection includes data transfercommunication between the image capture device and the computing device.4. The system of claim 3, wherein the data transfer communicationbetween the image capture device and the computing device includes:transfer of information defining visual content captured by the imagecapture device; and transfer of information defining edit to the visualcontent captured by the image capture device.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the communication between the image capture device and thecomputing device using the wireless communication protocol over thephysical data connection includes command transfer communication betweenthe image capture device and the computing device.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the wireless communication protocol includes Wi-Fiprotocol.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communicationprotocol includes ethernet protocol.
 8. The system of claim 1, whereinavailability of the communication between the image capture device andthe computing device using the wireless communication protocol over thephysical data connection is checked using Bluetooth communication. 9.The system of claim 1, wherein the physical data connection isestablished via a data cable connected between the image capture deviceand the computing device.
 10. A method for directly connecting an imagecapture device to a computing device, the method performed by acomputing system including one or more processors, the methodcomprising: masquerading, by the computing system, the image capturedevice as an ethernet card to the computing device over a physical dataconnection between the image capture device and the computing device,wherein the image capture device is associated with a first IP addressand the computing device is associated with a second IP address; andenabling communication between the image capture device and thecomputing device using a wireless communication protocol over thephysical data connection based on the first IP address and the second IPaddress.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the image capture devicereceives power from the computing device over the data cable.
 12. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the communication between the image capturedevice and the computing device using the wireless communicationprotocol over the physical data connection includes data transfercommunication between the image capture device and the computing device.13. The method of claim 12, wherein the data transfer communicationbetween the image capture device and the computing device includes:transfer of information defining visual content captured by the imagecapture device; and transfer of information defining edit to the visualcontent captured by the image capture device.
 14. The method of claim10, wherein the communication between the image capture device and thecomputing device using the wireless communication protocol over thephysical data connection includes command transfer communication betweenthe image capture device and the computing device.
 15. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the wireless communication protocol includes Wi-Fiprotocol.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless communicationprotocol includes ethernet protocol.
 17. The method of claim 10, whereinavailability of the communication between the image capture device andthe computing device using the wireless communication protocol over thephysical data connection is checked using Bluetooth communication. 18.The method of claim 10, wherein the physical data connection isestablished via a data cable connected between the image capture deviceand the computing device.
 19. A system for directly connecting an imagecapture device to a computing device, the system comprising: one or morephysical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:masquerade the image capture device as an ethernet card to the computingdevice over a physical data connection between the image capture deviceand the computing device, the physical data connection established via adata cable connected between the image capture device and the computingdevice, wherein the image capture device is associated with a first IPaddress and the computing device is associated with a second IP address;and enable communication between the image capture device and thecomputing device using a wireless communication protocol over thephysical data connection based on the first IP address and the second IPaddress; wherein the communication between the image capture device andthe computing device using the wireless communication protocol over thephysical data connection includes: data transfer communication betweenthe image capture device and the computing device; and command transfercommunication between the image capture device and the computing device.20. The system of claim 19, wherein: the image capture device receivespower from the computing device over the data cable; and the datatransfer communication between the image capture device and thecomputing device includes: transfer of information defining visualcontent captured by the image capture device; and transfer ofinformation defining edit to the visual content captured by the imagecapture device.